Protecting originative matter



0a. 1, 1946. L. EGEEN PRO'JPGTING` ORIGINATIVE MATTER Filed Aug. 2S, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l u 'a Puerta-ivm,

INVENTOR 5 E GREEN MMWw/xw l Avv-Nens Gllvllc: c. doA

Oct. l, 1946.` f B, GREEN 2,408,626

I PROTECTING OIGINATIVE MATTER l Filed Aug. 2a, 1943.y 2 Sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. EE 5 GREEN W MM 307% 519W Trae/vc ys Patented Oct. 1, 1946 UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE i V2,408,626 I Y i f.

PROTECTING omoINATrvEMAT'rER l Y Lee B. Green, Lakewood, 4ohio Application August ze, 194e,v senat No. 500,435

(o1. ess-ei 8 Claims.

- which the existence of suchmatteras of a certain date can be reliably proved.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel deviceby which a date, capable of being reliably proved, is obtained on then existing originative matter andin which such matter is perforated in a manner to prevent its subsequent alteration without detection.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel device for the purpose mentioned, wherein originative matterand a record sheet are perforated simultaneously and the record sheet is preserved out of `access of the originator for subsequent comparison with said matter'to determine whether alteration of the latter has occurred. Y

Still another object of my invention is to provide a protective ldevice of thercharactervmentioned having a po-rtion adapted to receive originative matter and to be folded and sealed `for concealing such matter and to be perforated for preventing subsequent alteration of such matter without detection.

The present invention also aimsto provide for the protection of inventive ideas by placing Va dated disclosure of such an idea on sheet material and perforating the sheet material after such disclosure has been placed thereon. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a Vplan view showing the inside of a folder made according to the present invention,

A,such folder being shown in a flat condition;

` Fig. 2 is a similar plan view of the folder showing the other or outerside thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a record sheet adapted tobe used as a part of my protective device;v

Fig. 4 vis a perspective view showing the folder partially folded;

Fig. 5 is another perspective view showingA a portion of the device folded and sealed for concealing the originative matter and also showing the record sheet being placed` in the folder;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the device after the sealed portion containing the origina-.-l

tive matter has been folded against the iiap portion or cover section;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the sealed 2 device with date stamps thereon and indicating how the cover section vcan be cut for opening the device'without exposing the originative matter;

Fig. 8 is a perspectivel view showing the step of simultaneously perforating a record sheet and the sealed portion containing the originative matter; and,

Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view showing a portion of the device unfolded after it has been perforated. l

Further reference will now loe made to the accompanying drawings for a more detailed description of my novel protective device. Figs. 1 and 2 show the folder part I0 of the device in a flatlorA expanded condition. AThis folder com'-v prises` a' sheet of paper or other suitable sheet material having a portion orsection II adapted to receive on the'kinside thereof the originative mat- ,terA .tov be protected, and a, flap portion or 'cover section' I2 Vfor closingthe folder after it has been prepared ashereinafter explained.

The' innerv face of the folder portion II preferably' has a marginal line I3 printed thereon and enclosing a space or area. I4 in which a drawing,

design, Writtencomposition, or other originative matter can be drawn, written or otherwise depicted. Instead ofA being drawn or writtendirectly in the space I4, the originative matter can be in the form of,'or carried by, a separate sheet which is placed' against the area I4 and maybe glued or otherwise attached thereto. The end portion I la, which comprises approximately onehalf of'the folder sectionII, is adapted to be folded 4transversely at dotted'lines I5, that is to say, folded transversely on va line'extending across the folder section II at approximately the mid-point thereof.

',The,end portion Ilo has a marginal strip of glue or other adhesive I6 thereon lying outside of the marginalline I3 and extending from one of the dotted lines I5 to the other as shown in Fig. 1.

AThe portion IIb of the folder section II is pro-v vided with oppositely extending hap portions .I Ic which have marginal strips adhesive thereon. As shown in Fig. 1 the flap portions llcp'roject. outwardly beyond the side edges of the end portion I Ia and extend along the foldersectionll .from the fold lines I5 ythereof approximately .toV the junction or fold line I8 connecting'the folder section II with the cover section I2- After theoriginative matter has been placed' on'or againstthe inner faceiof the area I4 of the folder section II, the outer end portion IIa is folded inwardly at the dotted lines I5 and, as

the point indicated by the.

I1 of glue or other indicated in Fig. 4, such folding of the end portion I Ia causes the folder section I I to be doubled or folded upon itself so as to conceal the originative matter between the folded portions. As a part of the operation of folding the end portion II d, the marginal adhesive strip I is moistened and pressed firmly against the folder portion IIb so that the folder portions IIa and IIb will become sealed together onthreesides vof 'the are@ I4. Afterthe end portion I Ia has beenthusfoldr ed and sealed against the portion IIb, the flaps iIc are folded inwardly toward each other and;

after moistening of the adhesive strips IT thereof are pressed firmly against the back lor outside face of the folded end portion II a. These flaps form an additional holding and sealing means for retaining the end portion IIa in its folded condition. In Fig. 5 I show the folder section II in the folded and sealed condition resulting from the above described procedure. It will be seen that .when the. folder Section ll has been thus Prepared, it forms. a Strona envelope. r enclosure for 'retaining and concealing the originative mat'- ter.

The cover section I2 of the folder ld has Aside and end naps I9 and 20 thereon and, as shown in Fig. 1, the inner faces of these fia-ps have marginal stlllS, 0f glue or other adhesive thereon. After the folder section II has been folded and ysealed as shown in Fig. 5 andV above explained, it is ready to be folded against the cover section I2 to form a second enclosure or envelope in the folder Iii. The enclosure or envelope formed between the cover section I2 and the previously folded section I I serves to conceal `and carry any desired data relating to the originative matter, such as one or morel record sheets 22 In Fig. 5 I show one of the record sheets 22 in the act of being moved into position against the inner face of the cover section I2 `ofy the folder preparatory to the folding Vof the'sealed section I I against the cover section or vice versa. In Fig. 6 I show the sealed folder section I i as having been swung or folded on. the fold linel I8 against, and inoverlying relation to, the cover section I2 and with the record sheet 22.`disposed between the folder sections I I and I2. The marginal flap portions I5 and 2Q of the cover section I2 are now folded inwardly'and, after m'oiste'ning of the adhesive strips 2I thereon, are pressed against the back vor outer face 23 of theV folder portion I Ic tov seal the sections II and vI2 together with the record sheet 22 concealed and retained therebetween. Fig. 7 shows the folder III completely folded and sealed, that is in the condition after the flap portions IB and 26 of the cover section if have been folded inwardly and sealed against the baci; ofthe portion IIc as just explained above.

As shown in Fig. 1, the inner face of the cover section I2 of the folder I6 may have lines printed thereon outlining a number of areas or spaces in which data or information pertaining tothe originative matter may .be written or printed. These spaces may include the area 24 in which may be placed the name and address of the originator or inventor of the originative matter, the title or subject of such matter and any other desired data or information such as assignments of such matter, the name and address of the attorney ofthe originator, andthe name and address of the originators employer or assignee. The space 25k may likewise beused for data or information pertaining to the originative matter and, when such matter is made the subject of a patent application, this space may be used for maintaining a record of the events or developments which occur during the prosecution of the patent application in the Patent Oiiice.

The space 26 may have the name and address of the service station or agent to whom the prepared folder IG is sent for purposes hereinafter explained, This space may also include lines for the dated signatures of employees ofsuch service station who receive and handle the folder. The space 2l may be provided for the dated receiving stamp of the service station named in the space 23. Such receiving stamp will show the date, and if ydesired the hour, when the folder was received by such service station. The space 28 may contain the serial number 29 of the folder and any other data or information considered pertinent to the originative matter such as the name of the city or postal station from which the folder is being sent to the service station and the date on which it is prepared for transmission to the service station.

The inner face ofthe folder section I I may also be, provided with printed lines 30 and 3| thereon for they signature of the originatoror inventor and the dating of the originative matter which has been placed in the space I4, In addition to the lines 38 and 3i,Y the folder section II may also have lines 32 and 33 thereon for the dated signatures ofl witnesses. The lines 39 and 3|` are located inthe lower right-hand corner of the area III and the lines 32 and 33 are located in the lower left-hand corner of this area so that when the folder section I I is folded or doubled on the dotte@ lines I5, the lines 39 and 3l will be in superposed or overlying relationto the lines 32 and 33. This is an important feature in connection with the perforating of; the folder as will be explained hereinafter.

In Fig. 2 I show the back or outside of the folder Ii) from which it will be seen that the back of the folder portion IIa may have a set of instructions 35 printed thereon which explain in detail the steps and procedure to be followed in using my protective device. The back of the portionA lia may also have a dotted line 35 printed thereon which line is used as a guide in cutting open the sealed folder section II when access to the originative matter is to be had. The back of the cover section IZWmay have printed thereon the name and address 36 of thel service station to which the prepared folder I9 is to be sent. This space may also carry instructions 3l relative to the sending of the folder by registered mail and may also have lines 33 vfor the return address of the originator or sender. In addition, the back ofthe cover section I2 mayhave a designatedl space or area 39 at which the registry receipt can be subsequently glued orotherwise attached to the folder for safe keeping after the folder has been returned to thev originator or sender by the service station.V

In Fig. 3 I show the record sheet 22, the face of which may be similar to or identical with the inner face of the cover section I2 of the folder. That is to say, the record sheet 22 may have the same areas and lines thereon as the inner face of the cover section I2 for the receipt of similar or identical data and information pertaining to the originative matter to be protected. The desiredjdata, such asthat mentioned above, is placed on the record sheet 22 by the originator or sender after which this sheet is enclosed in the folder before the latter is sent to the service station.

After the folder I0 has been fully prepared as rpoints, usually.

fabo've explained, it Vist `transmitted to. the service 'station or agent. in. amanner suchz that date :stamps will beplaoed .onthe folder,vfor example, .by sending .the folder by. registered mail. When the folder is sent by registered mail suchV .date

stamps lareplaced on` the folder atfappropriate K onthesealed flaps wand. 20 as .7. l'Ihese date .stamps become. .a I0 vandserve tov prove cover section andr..the..recor.dsheet 22. .Itrshould -.be..clearlyV understood.v that the;A opening of the .cover section l2 doesnot expose the originative matter because the foldersectionll containing such matter remains. sealed.

.1 An important part. of my protective device is theuse of perforationsin the sealed folder sec- Xtionpli .with the originatve `matter therein so that suchmatter cannot be thereafter altered without detection. .The step of perforating the sealed folder section AIl is illustrated in Fig. 8 :wherein I show a suitableperforating device .42 embodying perforating dies 43 and having an.op.- erating handle 44. In perforating.v the folder section! Lone or more record sheets ,G5 are placed 1in 'overlying or coextendingrelation tothe folder "section Il andare perforated simultaneouslywith the latter. Thesimultaneous perforation of the- .record sheet or sheetsandthe. folder, section l i.-.produces numeroussmallopenings vor groups of openings 46 in suchrecord sheets .andfolder fsection.

stantial portion of the area Iofthe record sheet l5 andthe folder section .Il so that substantially -allportions of the originative*mattercontained in'the folder section il wilLreceive the perfora- -tions A6,. Thesekperforatonsmare preferably .veryf lLbe Areadily detected bytcarefuly inspection and by comparison of the perforatediorisinative matter Vv lithtl'ie perforated reoordsheetl ,I

,1Q-*Instead of vusing an additional rcct'dsheet 4 5 l.in the/perforating.stepflvcan use thelrecord sheet 22. which vis .describedbove and which is, .Shown hin Fig.l `8 inthe. act ofbeingremoved from the .folder I0 uPOntheoDnins. of the latter st fthe service statior i.,V kWhen the record sheetv22 is used .in the `perforatilfls Step, .it ,is .leftin overlying re.-

;.latiori t0 the...sea 1edsection. Lof the folder. and rv vboth therecord sheet 22 and lthejsealed section are perforated simultaneously.` It will be. understood. @course that. .thererforatins stepfarfialso be .carried out .by perforetins. the folder., 0..W`1'li :the record sheet 22 thereinand p riortothe opening of the folder in .the manner shown inFigf'l. -In .the latter case theuperforations 46 will also be .-.formed in the coversection. I2Qof.A the folders,

. After the perforating 'of ,the recordsheetand .the...sea1ed folder section I l., v.the record: sheet or The perforationsedi can'be distributedy .in:a random or promiscuous patternover' a sub-1 'l2 aroundgthe; sides and Y sheets. are retained by the service station 'but the lto the.. originator` .or

tive device IQ vand who could `be later called' as Witnesses.y Therecord sheets 22and.45 are filed and retained. alt-.the service.V station where they are out ofaccess byi'the originator or .inventor and 'are preserved for future reference in the reventfthatit becomes necessary vor* desirablerto prove orestablishtheidate on: which the origi.- lnative matterfin :the/folder sectionvflLWas perf-orated, .or to prove .that such .matter existed: as of the` date of.r perforation. By comparingr the perforated recordsheet and the perforated folder .section Ilqcontaining the. originative matter it can easilybe .determined whether such :matter has been altered. in-any: respect sincethedateliof perforation because, if alteration has `occurred,it will be revealed by the condition.y of the perforatonsM. .y f In desoribin the folder Isectionil i, `I havestated above that thelines iii)v and 3| for the 'signature.- and date' of' the .originator or inventor are -locatedso that when the folder section l l is folded they wllbe in overlying or superposed relation tothe lines-32--and 33 which receive the-sig- :naturesv of thevvitnesses; Thisxis'a very desirable feature becausetheisignatures ofthe originator--and Witnesseslcan thenfbe lperforated si- .multaneously,.,with the 'same/-lperforations eX- tending through the overlying signatures, and subsequent alteration off-Ianyof these signatures cannotv beA made withoutY detection.A `The per- Yforating.oftthefsignature portions of the-.folder section H can* be-accomplished either with the iperforating machine 42 or manually by means of .a pxiiglp`unch r iff.:

After the above described.perforating ofthe folderand-record'sheetfhas taken place fand the recordlsheet2or-v sheets -have been filed away at the'serviceStationilithe folder i is placedin a suitableenvelope-and-is2returned to the sender preferably-by registered mail.r4 Whenthe folder is received bythelsender, he-@caniile the same avv-ayV for' safeY keepingrwithoutopening the sealed folder section I |.,Jor-if her-Wishesto do` so :he-can lopenthe' sealedsection .Il I..lblycutting along the p'erforatedlline 3S ofthe folded iendportion lia. FigfQ Ishows the inator will.. be protected.against'xtheft or copying'of his originative matterfbecause he will. be ableito prove the'iexistenceof such; matter. as of the,AV dates. established by; such vstamps [and rec- :Ordsal 1. 4111.; j.. For convenience in y ymaintai ning proper and `accurate .records at the serviestation, it is de:- nsirable .tohavegtlie identifying number 2S appear .onthe .folderecton `I l.as' iw,ell.as on the. cover .section 12;@ It.is.also.;desirable:to have .this numiber, .appear ;on;'the.:r.ecord sheet. 22 and. .on .the .recordasheet :'ifsthesglatter isused'.. It will` be folderafter theend-y portion i la v has been thus cutfand vunfolded -to enable the understood moreover thatiniprinting the folders l and the record sheets 22,.the numbers 29 are placed thereonso that the folders and record sheets are all numbered serially or consecutively and the originative matter `of any particular folder can thereafter be identified or referred to in the records of the service 'station by such serial number.

From the foregoingA description and accompanying drawings it will now be readily seen that I have provided a novel device by which inventive ideas, designs, drawings, written compositions, or otheroriginative matter can be safely protected .and theu existence of such matter as of a particular date can be reliably proved. It will likewise befseen that the novel perforating step and the manner in which it is carried out affordsv additional protection and prevents alteration of the originative matter without detection.

While I have illustrated and described my novel protective device in considerable detail, it will be understood of course that I do not wish to be correspondingly limited but regard my invention as including all changes and modifications come ing within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, l' claim:

1. An invention record folder or the like comprising a disclosure sheet and a cover sheet integrally connected therewith, said disclosure sheet having thereon an appropriately designated space for receiving a disclosure of an idea and being foldable to conceal said disclosure, means on said disclosure sheet for sealing the same in its folded condition for preventing access to said disclosure, said cover sheet being foldable against the folded and sealed disclosure sheet, and means on the cover sheet for sealing the same to the folded disclosure sheet for retaining the folder in a closed condition for transportation, said cover sheet being capable of being cut open' while said disclosure sheet remains sealed for maintaining said disclosure concealedi 2. An invention record Iolder comprising a disclosure sheet and a cover sheet integrally connected therewith, said disclosure sheet having thereon an appropriately designated space for receiving a disclosure of an idea and :being foldable to conceal said disclosure, means on said disclosure sheet for sealing the saine in its folded condition?, said cover sheet being foldable against the folded and sealedcdisclosure sheet, means on the cover sheet for sealing the same to the folded disclosure sheet, and a removable record sheet in .the folder' between said cover sheet and said folded disclosure sheet and having an appropriately designated space for receiving indicia. there'- on providing a record of data relating to said disclosure, said cover sheet also `having an appropriately designated space for receiving indicia on the inner face `thereof providinga recordof data relating to said disclosure and being capable of being cut open to reveal the data thereon and permit removal of said record sheet while said disclosure sheet remains sealed.

An invention record folder comprising a disciosu're sheet and a cover sheet integrally connected therewith, said disclosure sheet having thereon an Aappropriately designated space for Yreceiving a disclosure of an idea and being foldable to conceal said disclosure, means on said` disclosure sheet for sealing the same in its folded condition, said cover sheet being foldable against the folded and sealed disclosure sheet, means on the cover sheet for sealing the same to the folded disclosure sheet for retaining the folder in a Aclosed condition. for transportation, said cover sheet having an appropriately designated space for receiving indicia on the inner face thereof providing a record :of data relating to said disclosure and beingcapable of being cut open to reveal said data While said disclosure sheet remains sealed for maintaining said disclosure concealed, said folded disclosurelsheet having numerous perforations formed therein so as to extend through both layers thereof and distributed over the` majorportion of said disclosure and disclosure sheetto prevent subsequent alteration of the disclosure without detection and also having a weakened portion for facilitating the opening thereof.

4. An'invention record folderfcomprising a disclosure sheet and a cover sheet integrally connected therewith, said disclosure .sheet having thereon an appropriately' designated space for receiving a disclosure of an idea and being foldabie to conceal said disclosure, means on said disclosure sheet for sealing the same in its folded condition, said cover sheet being foldable against thefolded and sealed disclosure sheet, means on the cover sheet for sealing the same to the folded disclosure sheet, and. a removable record sheet in the folder between said cover sheet and said folded disclosure sheet and having an appropriately designated space for receiving indicia thereon providing a record of data relating to said disclosure, said cover sheetalso having an appropriately designated space for receiving indicia on the inner face thereof providing a record of data relating 'to said disclosure and being capable of being cut open. to reveal said data and permit removal of said record sheet while said disclosure sheet remainssealed, saidl folded disclosure sheet having numerous perforations formed therein so as to ext'end'througli both layers thereof and distributed over the major portion of said disclosure and disclosure sheet to prevent subsequent alteration of the disclosure without detection and said record sheet having similar perforations formed therein to provide a record of the perforations 4of said disclosure sheet.`

5. An invention record folder comprising a disclosure sheet and a cover sheet integrally connected therewith, said disclosure sheet having thereon ank appropriately designated space for receivingy a disclosure of an ideaand being foldable to conceal said disclosure, means on said -disclosure sheet for sealing' the same in its folded condition, said cover sheet being foldable against the faded and sealed disclosure sheet, means on the cover sheet for sealing the same to the folded disclosure sheet, said cover sheet having an appropriately designatedspace for receiving indicia on the inner face thereofproviding a record of data relating to said disclosurerand being capable of being cutY open toreveal said data while said disclosure sheet remains sealed, said disclosure sheet having appropriately designated spaces thereon for signatures and dates and located so that the latter spaces are in overlying relation for the folded condition of the disclosure sheet and said folded disclosure sheet having numerous perforations formed therein so as to extend through both layers thereof and distributed over vsaid disclosure and said latter spaces to prevent alteration without detection.

6. A folder of the character described comprising a sheet having a foldable portion and a cover portion integrally connected, said foldable portion having' an appropriately designated space for the reception of originative matter and being foldable to conceal said matter therein, means .on said foldable portion for sealing the same around its edges while in the folded condition for preventing access to said matter, said cover portion having an appropriately designated space on the inner face thereof for the reception of data and being foldable against the previously folded first-mentioned portion for concealing said data, and means for sealing said cover portion against said previously folded first-mentioned portion, said cover portion being capable of being opened to reveal said data While said firstmentioned portion remains sealed. l

1. A folder of the character described comprising a sheet having a foldable portion and a cover portion integrally connected, said foldable portion having an appropriately designated space for the jreception of originative matter and .being foldable to conceal said matter therein, means on said foldable portion for sealing the same around its edges while in the foldedcondition for preventing access to said matter, said cover portion having an appropriately designated space on the inner face thereof for the reception of data and being foldable against the previously folded first-mentioned portion for concealing said data, a removable record sheet between said cover portion and said previously folded rstmentioned portion, and means on said cover portion for sealing the same against said previously folded first-mentioned portion for retaining said 'record sheet in the folder and preventing access to said data, said cover portion being capable of being opened to reveal said data and permit removal of said record sheet while said rstmentioned portion remains sealed.

8. A folder of the character described comprising a sheet having -a foldable portion and a cover portion integrally connected, said foldable portion having an appropriately designated space for the reception of originative matter and being foldable to conceal said mattertherein, means on said foldable portion for sealing the same around its edges While in the folded condition for preventing access to said matter, said cover portion having an appropriately designated space on the inner face thereof for the reception of data and being foldable against the previously folded first-mentioned portion for. concealing said data, a removable record sheet between said cover portion and said previously folded firstmentioned portion, and means on said cover portion for sealing the same against said previously folded first-mentioned portion for retaining said record sheet in the folder and preventing access to said data, said cover portion being capable of being opened to reveal said data and permit removal of said record sheet While said firstmentioned portion remains sealed and said folded first-mentioned portion having numerous perforations formed therein so as to extend through both layers thereof and distributed over said matter to prevent subsequent alteration of the matter without detection and said record sheet having similar perforations formed there, in to provide a record of the perforations of said first-mentioned portion.

LEE B. GREEN. 

